iN tHE E.Y.E.S oF aN EnGiNeeR..

Every structure must be built with skill and patience..  

liandra's dreamhouse

I am a licensed Civil Engineer for more than thirteen years but since I practice engineering in the academe, I always ask Renan if hindi ba mahirap sa field (is it not difficult in the field construction?). despite the knowledge and theories I've learned and discovered, I still feel intimidated in the construction world.

While I'm busy checking papers and preparing for my next lesson, he's also busy sketching, drafting, measuring, estimating. Once he's done, he would always ask for any comment or suggestion. just to shorten his agony i would always say "perfect!".. one thing i've observed, engineering is also a vocation because we cannot patent our design ideas.. mas mabuti pa nga ang quotations kasi may authorship. too bad there is no plagiarism in engineering construction design..
Another thing.. sige nga, tell me how much is the worth of the signature of a licensed CE? degrading? Oh NO! this is the challenge for us engineers.. if only we practice the code of ethics!

Renan and I have sleepless nights together. i do watch movies in the cable TV or in the DVDs while waiting for him to finish editing, changing, printing, and preparing several options for his client. He would always say: THE SUCCESS OF ANY ENGINEERING PROJECT DEPENDS ON THE SATISFACTION OF THE OWNERS. He needs to prepare every small detail of the building very clearly for the carpenters to understand and follow his instructions correctly. According to him, the compensation he gets as a Project Engineer becomes invaluable if the owner couldn't appreciate the outcome of the efforts exerted by the whole team - the carpenters, painters, plumbers, electricians and laborers with the PE as the leader. For them, recognition is more expensive than any amount of money.

From a simple sketch of the floor plan, a masterpiece is done. Renan said: ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DRAWN IN PAPER CAN BE BUILT. how? ONLY A REAL CIVIL ENGINEER KNOWS!

Now that I'm on my way towards the degree in Doctor of Engineering, I still have many questions to ask.

Why I married a Civil Engineer like me? Probably because we complement each other.. Someday, I would understand too why God directed me in this path I'm taking now..

just give me time, more time..

*dad, i learned and i'm still learning a lot from you.. i've helped in making my students become engineers.. and you teach me how to become a true civil engineer by heart..* cholomot.. wabu..

A PieCE oF P. E. A. C. E.

The talk of Prof. Rudy B. Rodil, Peace in Mindanao: Tri-People Approach, opened my senses to what is really true behind the different versions of the story regarding the conflict in Mindanao. I agree with what he emphasized that “we can always document figures but never the emotions.” and since there is conflict, then peace becomes a dream. Unfortunately, the Spaniards (he labelled as the ‘sabongeros’) left us, Muslims and Christians, fighting. Although we claimed to be free from the said bondage, the fight (sabong) still goes on between us. As he had mentioned, it has started long ago during the Spanish regime and it was carried on to the next generations. I guess many of us are unaware of the past and yet, the feeling of hatred and wrong impression towards the other sect governs our feelings towards each other. Since it takes at least twenty years to change a generation (according to research), the academe indeed plays a big role in educating the younger ones. The husay, sandugo, and kapatiran encompassed the bigger picture of moving towards the attainment of peace and justice. I think it could create a deep impact, if and only if, it is wilfully and genuinely done.

       Mr. Musa Sanguila presented the background, the mission and vision, the people behind, and the different activities of the Pakigdait, Inc., which I believe gave all of us, participants, an idea that peace is now within reach. Their organization is so inspiring that if another group of people would just commit and work together to form a replica of it, justice and peace would be more evident in all areas of Mindanao. The song and the documentations presented has given a ray of hope and for me, I’d say that peace and justice in Mindanao is worth the efforts of all Mindanaoans.

       Prof. Saturnina S. Rodil’s talk on Multi-culturalism: Going Beyond Biases and Prejudices made me pause for a while and do ‘self-evaluation’. True to what she said, human as we are, we tend to notice only the faults and the negative side of all things. Our past experiences often influence our judgements and so if we want changes, we should start changing our perceptions. Due to individual differences, we see things differently. In fact, we become bias and we negatively label those who are different from us. In my own opinion, it’s all in our mind. But since thoughts can be changed anytime, we just simply decide on it.

        Smile is the beginning of peace. I agree. It’s the inner peace that is just being radiated. We cannot give what we do not have. We are the new generation of those yesteryears and so, if we want to create a peaceful Mindanao, then we have to start now. May He bless us all..  

S. I. N. FooL. N. E. S. S.

who doesn't want to be a winner? on top of everyone? oh c'mon, let us not be hypocrites. if we really belong to the human race, then we surely do! 

it was more than once mentioned that everyone is born good. if someone we know becomes bad or even we ourselves become bad, there are reasons why. each of us has a tendency towards sinfulness because of envy. animals as we are, we tend to be 'animalistic' in nature. say in school or in the workplace, we feel bad if our friends fail or stumble but the more we feel bad if they are way ahead of us. right?

we are all selfish. we are all arrogant. we are all boastful. we are all liars. we are all pretenders. we are all traitors. in short, WE ARE ALL BAD. but! but! but! at different levels or depths. we can never control our emotions because it pours both in our conscious and unconscious state. for me, it's not a sin but once it is put into words and actions, it's a different story.  

now, let me confess...

i am selfish. i always want the best. i feel so bad if my share is smaller than others. i'd rather want it fair or equal with the rest, atleast. or much much better if i had more of everything..

i am arrogant. i want to excel. i want others to see me shine. i want everyone to admire me. i want to show them what i know. i want them to listen to every word i say because what i say is always right..

i am boastful. i always have something to say just to level up myself.  i don't feel comfortable with people who assert themselves all the time. galit ako sa kapwa ko mayabang. others are nothing compared to me. i want to be a symbol of excellence..

i am a liar. i want everything to be easier. i want all issues to be ironed. i want to end all stories my way. i take all the chances to prove what is true to me. i don't care what's true. i am the truth..

i am a pretender. i choose what i want others to see. i choose what i want them to hear from me. i want to make a good impression. i am good in covering my flaws. i want to look perfect..

i am a traitor. i do favors if only i get a benefit out of it. i can sacrifice others but never myself. i can wait but only for a short time. when i say yes, i only mean maybe. i have no word of honor..

i am bad, really bad. whether i like it or not, this is my nature! fellow homo sapiens, AREN'T YOU?

WILL I GO TO HELL? of course not! 

because i know what's right and wrong.. because despite the many sinful emotions, words and actions can still be controlled.. because i am aware of my weaknesses and so, i can refresh my soul with a dose of faith.. because i believe in life after death and the glory of being with Him in heaven..

in every moment of our lives, we are to make a choice.. this or that? here or there? stay or leave? yes or no? heaven or hell? to sin or not to sin?

that's life. its a game. sometimes we loose. sometimes we win.if it's a point system, we'll know our score at the end of the finish line. let HIM be the tabulator. let LOVE be the criteria of our scores and let HEAVEN be the reward for the winners..

UneXPecteDLy...

ChRisT- LikE pEopLe iN a Non-ChRisTian scHoOL

let me share with you my schedule:
September 2010
3 - go back to Iligan
4 - @ 9 am - my second reporting in Management
     @ 1 pm - submission of Problem Set No. 3
     @ 4 pm - attend Professorial Lecture in Environmental Science
5 - @ 1 pm - make-up class in Management
6 - @ 1 pm - presentation of the solutions to the Problem Sets using MATLAB

September 3, i wasn't able to go back to Iligan because Yzabelle was admitted. i felt so worried. all the while i was in the hospital, i was thinking of my requirements and the deadlines. i informed my classmates and my professors and i was so touched with their reactions through texts and phone calls..
    
GIN, FAMILY FIRST. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DAUGHTER. EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY. WE ARE AND WE WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOUR BABY. BE STRONG. COME BACK JUST AS SOON AS YOUR DAUGHTER IS WELL.

September 11, i was welcomed with questions : HOW ARE YOU? HOW'S YOUR BABY? doubled with statements such as: YOU CAN SUBMIT LATER. DON'T WORRY, WE UNDERSTAND. YOUR REASON IS VALID.. even without the doctor's certificate.. it feels so good to be supported by people who barely knew me for three months!

i remember the time when i was still undecided to enroll at IIT. i had so many fears. mahirap daw sa IIT. terror ang mga professors. mahirap gumradweyt. matatalino ang mga teachers kasi sa abroad nagtapos. in short, very discouraging..

let me tell you these: some are true. they are all intelligent indeed and earned their degrees outside the country. they teach well. but one thing that i have discovered, they are all very humble. you can never see their degrees pasted on their foreheads. their hearts are larger than their brains. i was very thankful because i was made to realize that not all intelligent people have a heart of stone. i even felt smaller after knowing that their salaries are twice (or thrice) than ours. they are happy people, radiating positive energies and so, they are more blessed with a younger-looking face and a good health.

i wish to be like them. they teach because they want their students to learn. they don't do exhibitions and magics for us to believe in their capacity. they need not prove that they're the best or they are better than anyone. most importantly, despite their degrees and status in life, they are still 'within reach'. schools are training grounds for humans to learn for self-efficiency, not heartless machines to just simply memorize and top the board exams. with professors like them, what school wouldn't be blessed with self-motivated students and board exam topnotchers?

yZabeLLe’s battLe with DeNguE ..

September 1
lunch at Jollibee.
yzai complains of stomach pain.
@ home, fever started at around 2pm.
temperature is 38.6º
after taking paracetamol, she vomits.
temperature never subsides.
ranges from 38.2º to 39.5º

September 2
@ 2am, temperature increased to 40.5º
she cries and complains of headache and stomachache.
we are having second thoughts.
we don’t want her to be ‘dextrosed’.

@ 10 am, we went to see her Pediatrician.
we were advised to have her confined.

@ GSDH
she underwent rapid test for dengue.
it’s positive.
platelet count: 143
minimum platelet count is 150

September 3
morning:
platelet count: 118
blood transfusion needed.

evening:
9-hours-BT started at 9pm.
one FFP and one PRP

September 4
platelet count: 101
observation and close monitoring of possible bleeding.

September 5
morning:
platelet count: 87

afternoon:
platelet count: 60
blood transfusion needed.

September 6
@2:30 am: we went to the ER for her dextrose to be re-inserted.
four hours-BT started at 3am.

afternoon:
platelet count: 64

we had a good sleep for the first time since September 1.

September 7
morning:
platelet count: 75

afternoon:
platelet count: 102

September 8
platelet count: 107
doctor's order: patient may go home..

Notre Dame day.. Mama Mary's birthday.. to God be the glory!

All to Jesus through Mary..
All to Mary for Jesus..

aBouT D. E. N. G. U. E. (from GSDH Bulletin)

Dengue is an acute fever caused by a virus and occurs in the forms of dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever. Dengue fever (DF) is marked by the onset of sudden high fever, severe headache and pain behind the eyes, muscles and joints. Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a more severe form, in which bleeding and sometimes shock occurs – leading to death. It is most serious in children. Symptoms of bleeding usually occur after 3-5 days of fever. The high fever continues for five to six days (39-40º) and comes down on the third or the fourth day but rises again.

Recognition of dengue fever:
• Sudden onset of high fever
• Severe headache (forehead)
• Pain behind the eyes
• Body aches and joint pains
• Nausea or vomiting

Recognition of dengue hemorrhagic fever and shock:
Symptoms similar to dengue fever plus any of the following:
• severe and continuous pain in the abdomen
• bleeding from the nose, mouth and gums or skin bruising
• frequent vomiting with or without blood
• black stool (like coal)
• excessive thirst (dry mouth)
• pale, cold skin
• restlessness, or sleepiness

Treatment
There is no specific medicine for the treatment of the disease. However proper and early treatment can relieve the symptoms and prevent complications and death. Aspirin, Brufen, NSAIDS, and ketorolac should be avoided in dengue fever, as it is known to increase the bleeding tendency and also it increases the stomach pain. Paracetamol can be given on medical advice.


Important Facts:

• The first symptoms of dengue occur about 5-7 days after an infected bite.
• Dengue mosquitoes rest indoors - in closets and dark places and outdoors - in cool and shaded areas.
• Mosquitoes become infected when they bite people who are sick with dengue.
• Dengue mosquitoes bite during the day.
• Rehydration, both orally and intravenously, doesn’t cure the disease but it is necessary to increase resistance against the disease.
• Tawa-tawa doesn’t fight the dengue virus. It only promotes the development of blood platelets and softens the effect of virus which attacks the blood.

Starting September 2010, RAPID TEST FOR DENGUE is already available at GSDH Laboratory for Php 1, 500. Results are determined after an hour.